Fig. 5: In-chip pressure control through a hydrogel block overlaid on the microwell template. | Nature Communications

Fig. 5: In-chip pressure control through a hydrogel block overlaid on the microwell template.

From: Control of artificial membrane fusion in physiological ionic solutions beyond the limits of electroformation

Fig. 5

a Schematic illustration of pressure control via a hydrogel block overlaid on the microwell template. The water gap between the microwell template and the overlaid hydrogel block is approximately 3 µm. b 3D reconstructed confocal fluorescence microscopy image of the hydrogel block-generated 3DFLBs array (PEGDMA 1000:3400 = 10:5 wt%) at an AC frequency of 1 kHz. Lipid composition: DOPC with 1 mol% Rhod-PE. c SEM images of the hydrogel block and cross-sectional confocal fluorescence microscopy images of the 3DFLBs generated at an AC frequency of 1 kHz in different hydrogel compositions of PEGDMA 1000:3400 for (left) 15:0, (center) 10:5, and (right) 5:10 wt%. Lipid composition: DOPC with 1 mol% Rhod-PE. Scale bar: 10 µm. d Pore diameters of PEGDMA hydrogel blocks with different compositions. Data are presented as means ± standard deviation (n = 10 independent samples). e Size distributions of 3DFLBs generated under PEGDMA hydrogel blocks with different compositions at an AC frequency of 1 kHz. f Time-dependent cross-sectional confocal fluorescence microscopy images of enclosed 3DFLBs containing Alexa Fluor 488 produced with a hydrogel block (PEGDMA 1000:3400 = 10:5 wt%) to verify the seal over time. Lipid composition: DOPC with 1 mol% Rhod-PE. Scale bar: 10 µm. The representative cross-sectional confocal fluorescence microscopy images of 3DFLBs were obtained from 8 times of repeated experiments. g Stability of 3DFLBs produced without pressure, with hydraulic pressure, and with a hydrogel block in a chip. Data are presented as means ± standard deviation (n = 8 independent samples).

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